Battle for the Empire

When we left off…

Cortés leaves…

6 months passed, not much happened. Tensions were high. The Spanish were getting nervous.

Governor of Cuba sent men to arrest Cortés for disobeying orders. Cortés left Tenochtitlan to defeat the men, leaving Pedro de Alvarado, his second in command, in charge

Preemptive Strike

While Cortés is away, tensions between the Spanish and Aztec increase. Alvarado decides to do a preemptive strike against the Aztec before they can attack him.

While the Aztecs are preparing for a religious festival, Alvarado and his men surround the unarmed worshipers and kill many.

Perspectives…

What would each group think of this event?

Aztec perspective Spanish Perspective

Result…

The Aztec were outraged at the merciless killing of their people.

Aztec fought so ferociously that the Spanish had to retreat to Cortés’s palace away from the city center

Any chance of a peaceful agreement was gone.

Cortés Returns

After Cortés and his allies (Tlaxcalans) defeated the men who had come to arrest him, he returned to Tenochtitlan with more Spanish men to find the conquistadors trapped by the Aztec warriors.

Cortés makes his way to the palace and convinces Moctezuma to speak to his people so they will allow the Spanish to return in peace.

Death of Moctezuma

The Emperor tries to speak to his people… but they will not listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP2HHYQjN7E 33:50-35:14

Why the different accounts?

After Moctezuma’s death, Cuitahuac (kwee-tlah-WATCH) becomes Emperor.

Noche Triste (Sorrowful Night)

The new emperor, Cuitlahuac, continues the Aztec attack on the Spanish.

In June, the Spanish tried to sneak away in the middle of the night. The Aztec found them leaving the city, and attacked on the causeway from all sides. (The Spanish could not run away fast because they were

loaded down with heavy stolen gold. Unwilling to drop the gold and run, many died.)

700 Spanish and 2000-3000 Tlaxcalans were killed by the Aztec. The Spanish called this night “Noche Triste”

Noche Triste – 35:10-36:55 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8niQ1ZAbwU

Perspective journal #3

July 1, 1520 – The day after a sorrowful night… All illusions of peace are gone. The clash of

worldviews has come to a head with the slaughter of many on both sides. Cortés and his surviving men have retreated to a safe place, and the Aztec, under their new emperor, Cuitlahuac, are trying to restore order to their capital city. No one is sure what will happen next…

For your problem solving mark… suggest what your group should do next.